The Handmaid's Tale Season 2 (UK Pace) - thread 2

[CruCru]

Hi all

Here is the next thread for those who are watching The Handmaid's Tale Season 2 on Channel 4. Please don't put any spoilers on this - the other thread (for those in other countries who are watching ahead of the UK) is www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3239228-Handmaids-Tale-Season-2-SPOILERS-VIEWING-AHEAD-OF-UK-SREENING.

Hygge I wondered that too. It is definitely a shit job. My take on it is that 99% of people in Gilead are being coerced in some way or another to do things they don't really agree with or want to do. So, I'm thinking the supervisors in the colonies don't have any choice either.

Margo I agree, I don't think anybody would want that job. Certainly not all those people who are doing the job, there's far too many for them all to be brainwashed into wanting to be there.

I wonder if that's part of why they are so aggressive? It does remind me of what we know of guards at concentration camps but also, if you're in such a toxic place against your own will, would you lash out at the people you were keeping there? Would you blame them for getting sent there, because they are the reason why you're also there to keep guard?

I have no wish to be glib or flippant, but why not just kill them all. It would cost less in manpower and resource terms

Breaking the waste is futile

I mean doesn't radioactive waste have a certain limit on it til you can ever use the land again. Half life ?

Who would want to be a Guard? The Guards must be Gilead people who've seriously fucked up because this must be the shit assignment no one wants

I wonder if all jobs are assigned in Gilead? Like everyone who isn’t a sinner woman/gender traitor etc gets assigned a job according to their experience and maybe people who screwed over the commanders pre Gilead in some way or another were assigned as colony guards.

Mrstark.. The colonies are ineffective at clearing waste but they arw useful as a threat to keep citizens in line.
After all at the moment no one has come back from them to gilead so they are a very effective 'bogey man'.

I was listening to music on the way to work today and my thoughts drifted to this TV show. I thought of june and her ways of clinging on to real life, her real self. She's in there but she's slipping away. It reminded me of how I experienced PND, clinging on by my fingertips. Desperate to not fall into the black hole. The sheer bloody determination and resilience we have in us as women is what keeps this species surviving. It is amazing what all humans can endure but I felt very proud to be a woman today. So glad the real june appeared at end of last episode I can't wait for the next one!

It seems like such a tedious life. At least if you were a Martha, you have cooking and housekeeping.
As a handmaid or wife, you aren’t allowed to read or study so what do they do all day?

Remember last week when Serena hit Martha? I presume that wives can punish their staff as they see fit.

As a handmaid or wife, you aren’t allowed to read or study so what do they do all day

Looks like the wives spend time 'doing lunch' and having social gatherings.

The Wives are all clearly bored shitless and spend their hours conniving of ways to torture the help and to one up each other

Serena was holier than thou far right Christian in her previous life and as a member of the original Gilead movers and shakers, probably 100% thought the rules wouldn't apply to her and she'd have the status of Wife with the Power of an Aunt and gaily spend her days lecturing other women on how sinful they were

That's why Serena can't understand Warrens Wife whose name escapes me always complaining about her baby, tough or not she has something to DO.

No reading
No writing
No T.V
No Sport
No Dancing
No Games

The boredom must be next level

In the books the wives knit and garden.
If I was in charge of Gilead I would be putting more effort into getting them all focused on doing religious needlework. It used to be considered sinful for women, even rich ones, to sit idle and I am sure there was a reason for that - keep them busy with activities that don't threaten male dominance.

I was thinking about this today. I know that the Handmaids only get three chances at providing a child before they get sent off to the colonies.

Do the Commanders and Wives only get three Handmaids and, if none produce a child, they get no more chances? It might explain why Serena is so desperate for June / Offred to have a child. After June / Offred, she only gets one more Handmaid then no more.

What episode number is everyone on?

Episode 5.

10

I know that the thread title makes it clear, but just wanted to reiterate - please no spoilers for those of us who are watching Channel 4 pace, which has so far broadcast episodes 1 - 5 .

Thanks. I am about to watch 10 but wasn't sure what was broadcast on UK yet as there are so many TV services!

I won't disclose any spoilers.

There is another ongoing thread for people who are at your pace as some people are either US based or obtaining it elsewhere @OliviaStabler

"Spoiler" thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3239228-Handmaids-Tale-Season-2-SPOILERS-VIEWING-AHEAD-OF-UK-SREENING

Thank you

Yes Serena must be getting desperate now. If she doesn't get June's baby she won't have anyone to interact with and no one to have an emotional connection with.

Looking forward to tonight's episode 6. Everyone has been saying it is a great episode.

Good to see Saudi women no longer need a driver and can now get behind the wheel. Blessed be the fruit!

Under his eye (no not placemarking)
Hugely disappointed that cos of my work can't get to my boyfriend's summer work festival where the theme is dystopia. Was eagerly planning either being a handmaid or else an aunt so I could spend the weekend saying "blessed are the meek dear"...

In a village near where I live the local tea shop does themed afternoon teas and yesterday they did a handmaid's tale theme

Commanders 'fresh' sandwiches
Red velvet bonnet cupcakes
Blessed be the fruit tarts
Aunts' scorn with cream and jam
Little whores sugar biscuits
Lashings of tea and coffee (unlimited)

Sadly I couldn't go

Place marking.

And also to share that yesterday I must have been convinced it was Sunday and became irrationally angry when I sat down to watch handmaid’s tale and it never appeared!!